Aliens: Black Nova

Once the marines have prepared themselves to make landfall on LV402, they embark aboard two of their UD-L4 Cheyenne dropships. As they enter the atmosphere of “Vector” they spot what appears to be an abandoned mining colony in the side of a series of hills. However, before they can investigate the site, their dropships come under anti-aircraft fire from the surrounding forest. One of the Cheyennes is tagged by a missile and is forced to crash land on the colony perimeter, killing the pilot and one of the of the units support gunners. This leaves Pvt. Galahan as the only surviving smartgunner for his squad.

The second dropship escapes unscathed and sets down in the vicinity to assess the situation of their sister ship, and take out the AA site. As they embark for the suspected location of the missile battery, the lost one of their one of their members as they stumble onto a mine field protecting the AA site. While they attempt to find a way through the explosives, they come under fire from Black Nova forces and are forced to bunker down and return fire from a critical location. Luckily the marines are able to drive off the BN forces with minimal losses, and are able to secure the AA site without further obstacles. Pvt. Thibedeaux Proves instrumental in this encounter.

Meanwhile, at the crash site, the marines spread out and secure their site as quickly as possible while investigating the closest outbuildings of the colony. It appears that their is nobody occupying the settlement and they begin to search for the motor-pool for transportation, as their APC was wrecked beyond use in the crash. Once inside the main mining complex, the marines are able to locate a suitable vehicle to provide transport to the main BN complex where they are due to assist in the primary assault. Before they can leave, they are contacted by an unknown person claiming to be from the mining colony asking for their assistance. They claim to be trapped deeper inside of the colony, and hiding from the BN forces and their “experiments.” Pvt. Galahan’s squad is ordered to track down this individual and find out whatever they can regarding this person and their involvement with Black Nova.

While the squad prepares to delve deeper into the colony, first squad is able to finally meet up with them and provide support while the detachment as a whole readies themselves to meet up with the crew of the Tartarus. During this time, Pvt. Thibedeaux notices a bright star-like shine in the sky, and the unit is no longer able to contact the USS Monolith. The Goliath’s computer confirms that contact with the cruiser has been lost, and it no longer shows up on scanners. It is presumed that the ship and her crew is lost while investigating a possible pirate base working in tandem with Black Nova.

After waking from hypersleep, the colonial marines of the USS Goliath are briefed on their current mission: to locate the illegal salvage ship “Lilliana’s Caress” and detain the crew for questioning. After this has been completed, they are to rendezvous with the members of the USS Tartarus and USS Monolith to assault a Black Nova terrorist base on LV402.

Shortly after reaching the last known coordinates of “Lilliana’s Caress,” the crew finds the freighter damaged and in a slow uncontrolled spin. The crew sends two boarding parties aboard to assess the situation. There seems to have been an attack upon the ship and its crew by an outside force. After a search of the ship, there are no survivors save for the ships captain: Morgan Christoph. The only other significant find aboard the vessel is a strange leathery egg-like specimen located in the cargo hold. The egg-like structure is open and there are no signs of what was inside, if anything at all. The crew of the Goliath begin to escort Captain Christoph back aboard their ship for detainment and questioning.

Upon returning to the Goliath, the captain of the “Caress” reacts in pain, and dies as his chest ruptures outwards with some sort of creature emerging from the wound. The creature quickly scuttles away and escapes into an air vent before the marines can capture it. Being too small to track by onboard sensors, the marines split into multiple search teams and tracks the creature using their motion trackers. The alien makes quick progress towards the forward cargo and missile batteries section of the cruiser where it hunkers down and becomes difficult to track. As the marines close in on its last known position, the creature manages to kill two of the men before it is taken down. After the struggle is over, it is noted that the creature has grown significantly in size and is extremely dangerous. One particular observation is the acidic blood the creature bleeds when wounded that is capable of melting through starship bulkheads. The marines gather their dead and prepare to make landfall to meet up with the primary attack force headed for the Black Nova base.

Recording from illegal salvage vessel "Lilliana's Caress":

6:38am GLC November 16, 2179 GLC – Galactic Lunar Cycle
\\\There’s no chatter on the coms. I’m not picking up any automated signals either\\\
\\\You won’t, this place is a graveyard now.\\\
\\\What happened here? I thought this was a fully functional colony…\\\
\\\Not sure. Whatever happened, it happened fast. Either way, no one’s home… no one’s gonna care if we take a look around. Might be something of worth down there. The Black Nova guys say there is, and they’ll pay a pretty penny for it.\\\

8:01am GLC November 16, 2179
\\\Dropping into atmo now. Should be over the colony any second… good god! What hit this place?! Looks like a fuckin nuke went off.\\\
\\\That’d be the atmosphere processor going critical. Look there.\\\
\\\Damn! No wonder this place is a graveyard. You really think we’ll find anything of use down there?\\\
\\\There’s a decent amount of the colony still intact. Can’t hurt to look.\\\

11:23am GLC November 16, 2179
\\\We’ve reached the Control Center, nothing worthwhile yet. I don’t think we’re gonna find much more than heavy scrap here…\\\
\\\Now, now, don’t be too hasty. There could be some nice financial data in the Administration offices. Team 2, see if you can find anything of worth in the Medlab. Even if this stuff doesn’t pan out, Black Nova will still buy it off us.\\\
\\\This is Team 2…Boss you might want to get over here. Something ain’t right with this place…\\\
\\\On my way. Bernie, stay here and see if you can get some power back up.\\\

11:37am GLC November 16, 2179
\\\What’s the problem, Al…?\\\
\\\Yeah boss… my thoughts too. This isn’t damage fro the atmo going up. Look, that’s from weapons fire. There, and there…that’s explosives damage. Stuff’s melted over here. Looks like the ceiling caved in in places too.\\\
\\\Now this is interesting. Bernie, you got anything working up there in Control? Bernie? BERNIE! Goddammit, Al what’s wrong with the coms now?\\\
\\\Nothin boss, checked ‘em myself before launch.\\\
\\\Fine, take two men and see what the problem is.\\\
\\\Sure thing, boss. Riley, Dixon, you’re with me.\\\

USCM Report:
-Increased Black Nova terrorist activity detected in the Cetus star system. Elements of the 4th MSF colonial marine division are to patrol the area and assess situation. Any Black Nova, or suspected Black Nova, personal are to be intercepted and detained for questioning. Suspects are to be considered armed and dangerous – caution advised.
-USS Tartarus crew to make landfall on LV402 “Vector,” second planet in Cetus system. Search and destroy on suspected Black Nova base. Personal to be apprehended if possible. Light to medium munitions authorized at this time. USS Goliath and Monolith to provide support.
-USS Goliath to track down illegal salvage vessel “Lilliana’s Caress” and detain crew for suspected involvement with Black Nova organization. Light munitions authorized.
-USS Monolith to scout Cetus quadrant for pirate activity. Suspected base in asteroid belt around forth planet of the Cetus system. Light to medium munitions authorized.